The role of social interaction in Piaget's theory: language for social cooperation and social cooperation for language

Author(s): Carpendale, J. I. M.

Journal/Book: New Idea Psychol. 2000; 18: the Boulevard Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford Ox5 1GB, England. Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd. 139-156.

Abstract: The role of the individual and the social group in the development of rationality and morality, addressed by Piaget in his ''Sociological Studies'', is of just as much importance today as it was when Piaget wrote these essays. Piaget's articulation of this issue from an epistemological perspective, and his solution to the problem of the relationship between individual and society is an important contribution to the current debate and is relevant to the issue of cultural relativism. We argue, however, that Piaget's treatment of the social fails to adequately recognize the fundamental role of social interaction during the sensorimotor period. To address this gap, we propose reframing Piaget's theory based on Chapman's (1991) notion of an epistemic triangle in order to recognize the triadic nature of interaction infants experience in which they construct knowledge of the physical world and knowledge of other people.

Note: Article Muller U, Univ Toronto, Dept Psychol, 100 St George St, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, CANADA

Keyword(s): Piaget; individual; society; cultural relativism; social interaction; infancy; MIRROR SELF-RECOGNITION; SYNCHRONIC IMITATION; MORAL DEVELOPMENT; OTHER-AWARENESS; REPRESENTATION; OPERATIONS; TODDLERS; INFANCY; PLAY; MIND

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